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IMO, “learning the language” and “getting used to it” are different things.

The first is a purely theoretical exercise, the second a applied one that involves not only the language but also its ecosystem (implementation(s), library of functions and tooling)




I am not sure if we are agreeing or not, but I feel like we are. I think when people refer to "learning" a language, they mean they actually know how to use it properly. Learning the syntax does not count - that is just trivia any one of us can do.


(Nitpick: I assume you mean learning both the syntax and the semantics. That isn’t always trivial, as some languages have features one may not have seen before)

I think we mostly agree, too.

However, I distinguish between learning a programming language and learning to use it. I learn many programming languages without ever writing any line of code in them.

Once you’ve seen enough languages, if you combine that with reading about other people’s experience with working with the language, that can give you a decent idea about how the latter is without having to spend the effort (without being as good as doing it yourself, of course. Apart from “which one is the brake pedal”, I think I know how to drive a car, but I also know I can’t drive a car)

That’s why I posted my first comment: the poster you replied to may share my opinion between “learning” and “learning to use”.




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